D. J. SPARR
ELECTRIC BANDS
innova 013
Tracks 1-5:
I Can Hear Her Through The Thin Wall Singing – 16:25
(K. Bachrach/D. J. Sparr)
Kristina Bachrach, Soprano
D. J. Sparr, Guitar
I. Elegy After Midnight (4:28)
II. The Guitar (1:44)
III. The Singing (3:28)
IV. The Piano (2:31)
V. Heaven (4:11)
Track 6:
Meta444 – 7:44
(H.J. Pivnick/B. Matzke/D.J. Sparr)
Hajnal Kármán Pivnick, Violin
Brianna Matzke, Piano
D. J. Sparr, Electronics
Track 7:
String Quartet: Avaloch – 14:22
Momenta Quartet
Emilie-Anne Gendron, Violin
Adda Kridler, Violin
Stephanie Griffin, Viola
Michael Haas, Cello
Tracks 8-12:
EARTHCASTER SUITE – 8:51
(K. Galvin/S. Galvin/D.J. Sparr)
Drips (2:21)
Bells (1:21)
Family (1:00)
Work (2:05)
Dance (1:57)
Karen Strittmatter Galvin, Violins
Shawn Galvin, Percussion
D. J. Sparr, Guitars, Banjo, Mandolin
Kimberly Sparr, Violas
Jake Wenger, Cellos
Mark Morton, Double Bass, Hammond Organ
Total: 47:12
I CAN HEAR HER THROUGH THE WALL SINGING is inspired by Brooklyn poet Patrick
Phillips’ spare, modern, and emotional work. This song cycle conveys themes of
love: platonic, romantic, and familial. It draws equally from rich classical tradition
as well as contemporary sounds that are associated with the electric guitar. |
META444 was written for The Response Project’s “ON BEHALF” series. Sparr
composed on behalf of metaphor. The soundscape features percussive instruments
and searing guitars which work in consort with the acoustic violin and piano.
The combination of timbres blends uniqueness of spirit with commonality and
respect. | In the summer of 2014, the Momenta Quartet and Sparr spent a week at
Avaloch Farm Music Institute working on a new piece. Surrounded by apple
orchards, musicians rehearsed all day, took walks through the woods, and
attended evening performances. In Irish Mythology, “Avaloch” is a paradise of
everlasting beauty whose residents danced the days away. In STRING QUARTET:
AVALOCH, each performer triggers pre-recorded music on a personal playback
device, creating a timeless effect. | EARTHCASTER SUITE was composed for a
documentary about artist Thomas Sayre. Sayre’s process blends art and science,
addresses the past and future, and joins the natural and man-made in a
sometimes-dangerous dance of gravity and grace. EARTHCASTER highlights Sayre’s
formative life experiences including growing up as a child of a dean of
Washington National Cathedral when the Gloria in Excelsis Tower was under
construction.
djsparr.com
Tracks 1-5 recorded at Rocking Horse Studios (Pittsfield, NH) by Brian Coombes and Joshua Kimball. Track 6 Recorded at PianoForte Studios (Chicago, IL) by Victor LeJeune. Track 7 recorded at Peter Karl Studios (Brooklyn, NY) by Peter Karl. Tracks 8-12 percussion, violin, and cello recorded at Bunker Sound Productions (Chapel Hill, NC) by Jason Richmond. Guitars, banjo, mandolin, viola, double bass, and Hammond Organ recorded and Amusement Park Recording Studio (Lubbock, TX) by Scott Faris. All tracks Mixed and Mastered at Swineshead Productions, LLC by David v.R. Bowles. Produced by D. J. Sparr.
Special thanks to Avaloch Farm Music Institute
I CAN HEAR HER THROUGH THE THIN WALL SINGING
commissioned by Kristina Bachrach
poetry by Patrick Phillips. Used with permission
patrickphillipsbooks.com
META444
commissioned by The Response Project
theresponseproject.org
EARTHCASTER
a documentary by Minnow Media
earthcasterdoc.net
Image Credit:
CORPUS COLLOSUM by Thomas Sayre
thomassayre.com
Innova Director: Philip Blackburn
Operations Director: Chris Campbell
Publicist: Tim Igel
Innova is supported by an endowment from the McKnight Foundation.